Elmidae comprises the largest aquatic family of Dryopoidea, with 1,650 species recorded worldwide. Brazil has the most diversity with 210 described species. Although this number has increased in recent years, in some Brazilian geographical regions there are knowledge gaps in the distribution of fauna, especially based on immature stages. After a yearlong aquatic insect survey conducted in a karst sinkhole located in Jardim municipality, Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil, we found an endemic and novel beetle fauna which included new species. Here we present a taxonomic description of two new species of Elmidae, Microcylloepus dimorphus sp. nov. and Hexacylloepus misteriosa sp. nov., based on males, females, and immatures. These new species represent the first Brazilian Elmidae described from a lentic habitat. Also, we provide photographic images of the habitus, SEM images, and illustrations of the diagnostic structures for both species, including their immatures, and habitat notes about Lagoa Misteriosa.
Stegasta bosqueella (Chambers) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is a major peanut pest (Arachis hypogeae L.) in Brazil. The evaluation of peanut cultivars is fundamental for characterizing the levels of insect resistance, supporting their use in integrated pest management (IPM). This study evaluated possible sources of antibiosis-type resistance to S. bosqueella in selected peanut cultivars. Five cultivars were evaluated for constitutive resistance levels: IAC Caiapó, IAC Runner 886, IAC OL3, IAC 503, and Granoleico. The development of S. bosqueella was evaluated under laboratory conditions, where neonate larvae were kept in Petri dishes and fed leaves of the peanut cultivars until pupation. The evaluated biological parameters of S. bosqueella were larval and pupal weights; larval, prepupal, and pupal periods; adult longevity; sex ratio; and larval survival. Larvae fed leaves of the IAC 503 cultivar presented prolonged larval periods, lower weights and survival. In addition, larvae fed on this cultivar gave rise to pupae with lower weights, adults with shorter longevity, and those with the lowest fitness index. Thus, IAC 503 was classified as resistant to S. bosqueella through antibiosis, whereas the other cultivars presented different levels of susceptibility. The results obtained herein can support the use of resistant cultivars in IPM for peanut crops since IAC 503 is a commercial cultivar that is readily available for planting by farmers. Additionally, IAC 503 can be useful in peanut breeding programs targeting S. bosqueella resistance, serving as a resistance gene donor.
Chemically mediated behavioral strategies, including semiochemicals and food-based attractants, have gained prominence in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs because of their potential for selective and environmentally friendly pest control. The objective of this study is to evaluate the use of food-based attractants and two trap models (delta-ajar and funnel-ball) for monitoring adult lepidopteran pests in soybean fields. Additionally, the field performance and selectivity of an attract-and-kill (attractant + insecticide) strategy were assessed. Field trials were conducted in commercial soybean areas in Jaboticabal, São Paulo state, Brazil. Results indicated that funnel-ball traps captured a significantly higher number of target moths (36.8 ± 4.3 moths/trap/month) than delta-ajar traps (17.4 ± 2.9 moths/trap/month). However, both models presented similar species richness. Temporal patterns of moth abundance varied along the crop cycle and Helicoverpa armigera and Chrysodeixis includens populations peaked during the reproductive stages of soybean. In contrast, Spodoptera frugiperda and Elasmopalpus lignosellus were more abundant during the early vegetative stages, particularly within the first 20 days after plant emergence. The attract-and-kill application was associated with significantly higher moth mortality than the untreated control, especially for C. includens and E. lignosellus, with mortality peaking at 40 days after trap installation. Importantly, mortality among non-target organisms was relatively low (< 2
In this study, we transfer Grammodesma luridipennis (Baly 1859) to Elytrosphaera Blanchard 1845 and redescribe the species. Elytrosphaera lahtivirtai Bechyně, 1951 is proposed as a new junior synonym of E. luridipennis. Hind wings are documented for the first time in E. luridipennis, making it the only species of Elytrosphaera currently known to be winged. Male and female genitalia are described for the first time. We provide morphological and distributional data for E. luridipennis, including external morphology and wing venation. In addition, we compare the morphology of Grammodesma and Elytrosphaera, highlighting diagnostic characters that distinguish the two genera, and distinguish E. luridipennis from Grammodesma rubroaenea (Stål, 1859), one of the Grammodesma species most similar to E. luridipennis in coloration. We also compare E. luridipennis with Elytrosphaera xanthoptera xanthoptera (Gistel, 1848), highlighting diagnostic differences between these taxa.
